Parklife
Reviewed by:
lazyboat, on april 17, 2006 1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Sound: The sound of this album encapsulates and in some ways was the zeitgeist for the massive brit-pop sound and musical movement of the mid '90s. The sound blur craft on this album is focused and playful simultaneously, almost like a musical history lesson in British Music. There's the classic pop song, the joyous romp through english music hall, the phychodelic trips and dancefloor fillers all in one brilliant package. The album manages to transcend it's time sounding indebted to the past whilst thoroughly modern. // 10

Lyrics: Damon Albarn here really comes into his own for the first time with Blur. His lyrics sum up exactly what it was like to be British in the mid '90s, he delivers bitingly satirical lines on pop culture and politics while taking a cheeky insight into life in London. His lyrics can be witty, though on occasion they are incredibly poignant, showing his true gift as a songwriter. Though he may not have the greatest voice in the world, he more than makes up for it with his wit, passion and sheer charisma. // 8

Overall Impression: Blur must have had a lot of fun writing and recording this album, it certainly feels like it. Instead of feeling contrived to a certain genre as with past albums, Parklife just busts down the walls of genre. It's this fun that Blur have making this album that comes across with listen after listen of Parklife and is what makes it addictively brilliant. A true British classic and one that stands as a milestone in British musical eccentricity and sheer songwriting genius. // 9